My MPB is too hot!

Question

Level 1

8 points

My MPB is too hot!

Hi there.

I think that my MBP 13" is getting too hot too quick!

It's got no optical unti anymore and in place of that I moved the HDD there and installed an SDD in place of the former HDD. Now, I noticed the MPB getting really hot like since almost half a year - and NOW it's really annoying!!!

I mean, I can't have my hands on the MPB too long, it really is uncomfortable!

Anybody has any clues, what to check and what to do? Some software to display temperature?

Thanks for your help

F.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 13, 2015 8:35 AM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,708 points

Jul 13, 2015 9:21 AM in response to FlavioB

"Hot" depends on whether the computer get hot just idling, ior only if certain programs activities are used. Which does yours do?

It could be possible that added the second HD somehow disabled the cooling fan. A 13-inch MBP has but one fan so if it quits, you have zero cooling.

Temp software is not going to help if the fan is dead. First you nee to boot run Apple diagnostics. Instructions here:

OS X Yosemite: Use Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware Test

A failed or jammed fan will give a error code starting with "4/MOT." If you get that code, the next step is to open the back and see if the fan in jammed. My son's MBP13 suffered this. When he opened it, he found that a tiny piece of the plastic battery support had broken off when his little son accidentally knocked the computer to the floor. Removing the offending bit of plastic restored normal function. Illustrated instructions for accessing the fans are here:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Fan+Replacemen t/10367

Please report back what you find.

AJ

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Answer 2

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:14 PM in response to Allan Jones

HI Allan,

Apple Hardware Test showed "4MEM/9/40000000: 0x82cdd498", which I believe is a RAM error.

Do you know how to identifiy the problematic RAM bank?

Thanks,

F.

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Answer 3

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:43 PM in response to FlavioB

OK, I did following tests:

removed upper RAM module (the one that's covering the first module) and ran the test - NO ERRORS!

removed lower RAM module and put the upper module into the lower slot, then tested again - NO ERRORS!

put the other RAM module back (thus having finally swapped the two modules) and ran the test - SAME ERROR!

To me this sounds weird, it's not the single module, it's the combination of them, or what?

Could the RAM slot be the culprit?

Thanks,

F.

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Answer 4

GhonaZ

Level 3

572 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:44 PM in response to FlavioB

You can identify the Ram with the problem by removing one of the two sticks of ram. then booting up your macbook. if the problem remains, reseat the ram stick and remover the other ram stick then boot up again.

if you remove the problematic ram stick everything should be normal again if that is the cause of your problems.

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Answer 5

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:48 PM in response to GhonaZ

Hi GhonaZ - please have a look at my feedbacks... doesn't seem that easy!

F.

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Answer 6

GhonaZ

Level 3

572 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:51 PM in response to FlavioB

I see yes, Does al your ram show up in your system preference menu or is only one of the two slots filled? if this is not the case then perhaps this link https://people.cam.cornell.edu/~zc227/extras/mid2009mbp_RAM.html might give an explanation and possible solution.

Cheerio~

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Answer 7

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2015 1:57 PM in response to GhonaZ

Hi GhonaZ, thanks for that link.

My MBP recognizes both RAM modules, thus I think the fix described in that link doesn't fit my needs.

What other suggestions do you have?

Could it really be that the mainboard has been "warped" by heat?

BR,

F.

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Answer 8

GhonaZ

Level 3

572 points

Jul 14, 2015 7:29 AM in response to FlavioB

Hi Flavio,

Now that we have found no problem with the RAM slots and modules as far as we know, we can look into other things. Please answer Alans questions:

-does the Macbook heat up during idle or when using a certain program (what program)?

-Does the fan spin up and does it ramp up when the Macbook feels hot

additionally: does the macbook heat up after a while or does it run hot immediately after start up?

You could install a program like SMCfancontrol and mannualy ramp up the fan if you think that the Macbook gets excessively hot

or HWMonitor to see what your fan does and with HWmonitor you can identify if a certain part of the MBP is the cause of the excessive heat.

-SMCfancontrol http://www.eidac.de/

-HWMonitor http://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/HWMonitor.shtml

about the possible warped thing, i don't have any experience with that. I wouldn't assume that it is a problem because it would affect your ram slots and they work fine.

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Answer 9

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 18, 2015 7:34 AM in response to GhonaZ

Hi GhonaZ.

Can we for sure exclude RAM or RAM slot issues? I mean: from the tests I did, both modules work fine, but when both are inserted at the same time, the Apple Hardware Test shows the mentioned error...

To answer the other questions: the MBP heats up even if IDLE. I actually have hot temperatures (I feel them!) on both sides of the mousepad, where my hand palms are. Nevertheless, I only have iTunes running and Safari with a couple of tabs open.

Here the actual temperatures:

I mean: it doesn't seem to be really hot, but my hands have "hard time" to stand that heat! Also, the side part of the unibody, on the left between the USB and various ports and the keyboard edge is MUCH HOTTER!

As you can see, I don't think the fan is really cooling down...

I will now install HWMonitor and see...

What are your thoughts with above findings?

Thanks,

Flavio.

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Answer 10

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:06 AM in response to FlavioB

The temperatures that are displayed in your image of the iStat Pro Monitor are normal in light use mode.

Ciao.

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Answer 11

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:15 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Really normal that I'm burning my hand palms on it???

Another screenshot:

I mean: the points of the MBP exactly over the battery and SDD compartments are really unsustainable hot (again: I can't leave my hand palms there for longer than a couple of seconds)!!!

F.

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Answer 12

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:20 AM in response to FlavioB

The CPU temperature you were showing in the earlier image is 52°c , now you have introduced one showing 68°c. What are the differences shown in Activity Mntor set to ALL PROCESSES and CPU set to display values from high to low for the two iStat Pro readings?

Ciao.

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Answer 13

FlavioB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

OK, here we go. Actual status:

And here the Activity Monitor, at the same time:

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Answer 14

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Jul 18, 2015 10:24 AM in response to FlavioB

I do not see any item in Activity Monitor that indicate the cause of the 71°c temperature.

Open the MBP and inspect the interior to see if there is any dust or debris inside, especially by the fan. If so, clean it out.

Run an Apple hardware Test:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257

Note that an error free AHT is not definitive.

I note that you have 10,.10.4. iStat Pro was never updated to be compatible with 10.8 or later. That may or may not have an affect on the integrity of the data being displayed.

Ciao.

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